Author: SCG

When making improvements to your small business in an effort to help things run smoother, bookkeeping software is certainly among the top things to be considered. However, before purchasing and learning how to use new software, you’ll want shop around to determine which software works best for you. Whether you’re a bookkeeper Surry Hills residents know and love or a brand new accountant in Waterloo trying to get your business started, Xero just may be the perfect software for your company. Because of our personal experience with Xero, we love the service and want to share all the reasons we think you would love it too.

What Is Xero?

According to Xero’s website, Xero is “the emerging leader of online accounting software that connects small businesses to their advisors and other services.” They also claim that Xero allows business owners to keep track of their financial position and performance in a way that’s easy and safe. It allows accountants to extend their services and is currently used by more than 180 countries. There’s a reason it was named Forbes’ Top Innovative Growth Company in 2014. But don’t worry, they’ve continued to expand and improve since then to ensure they remain on top of that list.

To explain it as simply as possible, Xero is an online accounting system “born in the cloud” providing client accounting that is available at any time, anywhere, and on any device. Additionally, Xero provides accountant tools necessary to allow your business to run properly.

How Does It Work?

According to Xero’s site, the software, which was founded in 2006, was created with the idea in mind that small businesses are “highly sensitive to shifts in their balance sheet and cash flow.” That’s precisely why it’s important for a small business to use a software that allows them to monitor their financial performance while planning ahead.

How Much Does It Cost?

There are five scalable pricing plans available for purchase, starting at $9 a month. Keep in mind that no contract is required. Each plan includes unlimited users and 1GB of online file storage. Xero does offer a 30-day trial if you’re unsure of whether the software will work for you, and you can use the demo company that is already set up so you don’t have to use your own information in test mode.

There are several discounts available, including 25% off for nonprofits and 15% off for those with several companies registered on Xero. Xero will often run discounts and deals on their site as well, so you’ll want to be sure to check the site regularly for those.

For a better idea of the pricing, take a closer look at the available pricing plans below:

Starter:

$9 a month

5 invoices

Expense tracking

5 bills

Live bank feed

W2’s and 1099’s

Customizable reports

Reconcile 20 bank transactions

Standard:

$30 a month

Unlimited invoices

Expense tracking

Unlimited bill

Live bank feeds

W2’s and 1099’s

Payroll for 5

Direct deposit

Customizable reports

Premium:

$70 a month

Unlimited invoices

Expense tracking

Unlimited bill

Unlimited bank transactions

Customizable reports

W2’s and 1099’s

Payroll for 10

Multi-currency support

Direct deposit

Live bank feeds

Premium 20:

$90 a month

Unlimited invoices

Live bank feed

Unlimited invoices

Unlimited bank transactions

Customizable reports

Payroll for 20

Direct deposit

W2’s and 1099’s

Unlimited bill

Multi-currency support

Premium 100:

$180 a month

Unlimited invoices

Expense tracking

Unlimited bank transactions

Unlimited bill

Live bank feeds

Customizable reports

W2’s and 1099’s

Payroll for 100

Direct deposit

Multi-currency support

Pros & Cons of Using Xero

Like any bookkeeping software, Xero has its pros and cons. Of course, the pros far outweigh the cons or else we wouldn’t be telling you how much we love Xero. One of the most commonly reported perks of using Xero is the inclusion of Payroll in its standard and premium plans. Most users are quick to point out that Xero is easy to use, which means accountants and bookkeepers can teach customers how to use the software with ease.

Additionally, Xero has a large feature section that includes payrolls and reports as well as extensive user permission settings. Users also had high praise for the software’s mobility, saying they really liked the mobile apps and the cloud-based software. It’s also worth noting that the more than 500 integrations help businesses run smoother, making accountants’ and bookkeepers’ lives easier. Perhaps the biggest pro that many people will be quick to point out is that Xero seems to work better and more efficiently than Quickbooks, while also boasting better customer support. That certainly says a lot!

As for the cons, several reviews of Xero mention that the software isn’t as intuitive as they hoped it would be. Simply put, there’s a bit of a learning curve when you get started with the program, but it’s important to note that no users thought it was an issue they couldn’t overcome. Other user reviews mention frustration with phone support and customer service, but made a point to say it still beat out its competition in comparison.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt Xero was created with small businesses in mind, but it was then upgraded and remodeled to satisfy the needs of larger businesses as well. That’s precisely why their various pricing packages are great, because they allow you to purchase only what your company needs. As with a lot of other software, not just those used by accountants and bookkeepers, how well the program works for you depends on both your expectations and your personal experience. All in all, however, it seems that Xero is the one program that individuals and companies are more than satisfied with, no matter their experience level. It’s up to you to decide whether you will love Xero as much as we do, but we can’t help but think you will.

Owning a horse is more than just having a big pet, especially if you’re not a professional horse trainer or breeder. That’s why the best course of action once you get a new horse is to get help from a professional trainer or a horse communicator.

You simply cannot train your horse and build genuine trust with it by making it up as you go along. Horses are special. They can have a very positive effect in people. They are even noted to have healing abilities to a degree.

On the other hand, horses are quite skittish, and you need to win their trust step by step. Building a bond is especially important. Horses are, after all, bigger than dogs and can do severe damage very quickly when startled or distressed. Even if you do get help from a professional trainer, there are still some things that you can do to build genuine trust between you and your horse.

Study your horse

You should always study your horse before you own him.

Most horses can be split into two groups: leaders and followers. It is very easy to determine whether your horse is dominant, or a leader, or submissive – a follower. If you get a dominant, leader horse, you might have your hands full during training. In fact, horses that show signs of having a leadership-type personality might even be too difficult to handle for a beginner.

If you have a paddock, observe your horse as it interacts with other horses. Also, observe how your horse reacts when a feeding bucket is placed in the paddock. The horses really show their personality in that situation. Some go immediately for the bucket, which indicates that they prefer to lead rather than observe and follow. Other horses will not go for the bucket, but they will show signs of distress. Other horses will not go for the bucket, but they also don’t prance around in distress at being unable to feed. These show signs of patience – they may be followers instead of leaders, but they are also patient and willing to wait for their turn to feed.

Most of all, you need to observe your horse for the tiniest signs of distress. Horses show anxiety subtly before they strike harshly – so watch out for nervous tail wagging because it’s among the first signs of trouble. Then, watch out for nervous prancing, inability to stay still when you want the horse to do just that, and watch when your horse raises its head up and straightens its ears. You will need to be aware of these signs when you train your horse so that you can read its reactions correctly.

Show your leadership

Before you build trust with your horse, you must demonstrate that you will be the leader. If the horse gets the impression that you will be a follower instead of a leader, you will have trouble getting it to do even the simplest task of changing direction.

There are several ways that you can show leadership.

First of all, protect your personal space – and the horses as well. When you wish to cuddle your horse, make sure that you guide the horse towards where you’re standing. When you’re done, guide the horse slightly away from you. Doing that shows the horse that you’re the one leading the interaction.

It’s important to stay still, on the balls of your feet, when interacting with your horse. There are two reasons for this. First, when you don’t move your feet, you show determination and leadership. Second, and this is especially important if you and your horse haven’t been training together for that long, standing on the balls of your feet will enable to move away quickly if something distresses the horse.

Next, you need to show the horse that you can protect it from harm. When another horse wishes to come close to your horse, you need to deter the other horse without moving your feet. Remember, if you move your feet, you will send the wrong message to your horse – that the horse can make the decisions while you follow.

Building trust: encounter, wait, revisit

Encounter, wait, revisit is a method of getting your horse to learn and do new and different things. The method is very effective when training your dog to jump ditches, walk over tarps, or simply stay still while you grooming and clipping.

It’s important to note that between the steps of wait and revisit comes a small reward.

Many people adopt a wrong method of encounter, wait, encounter, revisit. Let’s take an example with clippers.

Electric clippers vibrate, touch the body of your horse, and the cord can appear to them like an unusually rare and dangerous snake. Clippers can really be traumatizing for horses and using them on your horse can shatter the little trust you’ve managed to build. The method, when applied to warming the horse to electric clippers is to go slowly. For example, start by having the horse look at both the clippers and the cord. Then, take the cord and rub it all over the horse to show it that the cord is not a snake and that it will not do harm. Once the horse is comfortable with looking at and being touched by the clippers, turn it on and start slowly. Many horses have an adverse reaction when you reach their belly. Watch for the tiniest sign of distress, and stop. Don’t remove the clippers, just stop moving. Once the horse shows a sign of comfort again – tail stops wagging, his stance relaxes – you take them away before trying again. Continuing with the clippers will only show your horse that he gets punishment – not a reward for relaxing. However, when you take it away, you reward the horse.

The method can be applied to anything – even playing games. When your horse shows any sign of distress, only wait and remain calm. Then, take the clippers away, move the horse into a different direction, reward the horse by taking away whatever it was that caused distress. Most of all, remember to show your love and affection at all times. You’re not a heartless dictator. Most horses don’t take commands that well anyway. They do understand requests, and because they’re such good animals, they usually do what you want.

All of it will show the horse that while you’re the leader, you two are also partners. It will become the cornerstone upon which you will build your bond.

When it comes to horse race betting, beating the bookies, beating the odds, and beating the casinos is the dream. How can you place the right bet, at the right horse, at the right race? Many professional gamblers claim to have found systems that work, systems brimmed to the full with probability and permutations, designed to help you, supposedly, place the right exotic or single bet and beat the bookies and the odds and win.

Today, it is very easy to follow the races and bet on the horses, and you don’t even need to leave your home. You simply place your bet and follow the race online, and collect your winnings or mourn your losses in the same way. There are also the web sites like https://www.gaminatorbonus.net/, where you can get hefty bonus codes and promotional benefits, making the experience of horse betting even more fun.

The difference between a gambler and a horse race enthusiasts

But there is a difference between a gambler and a horse racing enthusiast. When it comes to horse racing, learning everything about the horses is a must for anyone who wants to place bets on horse races. The gambler only cares for the thrill of the bet, and for many gambling addicts, betting on horse races was a gateway towards many other forms of gambling that provide a quicker and bigger thrill without the extra work. For horse race enthusiasts, placing a bet is the tip of the iceberg, while the real excitement lies in learning the horses and everything about them, which, as a process, needs to come before betting if the bet is to bring forth a win.

Why other gamblers’ systems do not work

Horse race betting systems have been developed by a lot of self-professed professional gamblers. This is not disputable, for them, their systems work, and there are many stories circling out there of professional punters who are making a living directly by betting on horses. But they are the exception – many people lose the bets they make on horse races, even when they use said systems. This is because they expect another person to do all the work for them, but also because the system might be flawed and not take in crucial information, like the day’s handicapping tips, for example. So one should not rely on betting systems for the perfect bet.

Learning: Begin with the horses

It is imperative to learn everything about the horses before you continue with a bet. Learn the terminology and how to differ between a horse, a geld, a juvenile, a maiden, and others. If you’re partial to a horse, try attending a horse race to see it perform. Even if you’re partial to online betting versus going to the racetracks, a trip to a horse race can be a lot of fun and quite informational, and you can meet a lot of people who will have actual information on the horses as a bonus. Do not delve into the fray without prior information, because chances are, none of your bets will beat the bookies and bring forth a win for you.

Learning: Different types of bets

Straight bets are easy to comprehend, as there are only three of them: win, place or show, where you bet that the horse will end first, second or third. There is also the combination bet of the three, commonly referred to as across the board, which in turn costs a bit more, but it gives you more chances of winning, as you win as long as the horse finishes first, second or third. There are also exotic bets, which range from exacta and trifecta, and superfecta, where you bet on three to four different horses to win first, second, third and fourth. These are the types of bets which can bring you a considerable win, if you do your research and analysis on the horses and bet on the right selection of horses.

Another type of bet is laying a horse. When you lay a horse, you are basically betting that the horse will lose the race, and not finish first, second or third. As a type of bet, it is highly popular, as there is a high chance of winning, but know that there will be a lot of other people placing a lay bet, so your winnings might not end up being so grand.

Importance of the paddock

The paddock is the place where the horses are stationed before the race. If you attend a horse race and plan on placing a bet, going to the paddock will give you an opportunity to see whether the horse is ready for a run. In that situation, you should look for signs of fatigue, or whether the horse is sweating profusely, or acting in strange manners, and determine whether you should place a bet on that horse or not. This is not something that you can do if you place your bets from home, although there are other means of determining a horse’s possible prowess in the upcoming race. One of them is to watch previous races, read highlights and compare results. In addition, you should always take into consideration the condition of the tracks, whether they are dry and fast, or muddy due to recent rain, as it has great impact on the race and the horses.

Learning: Different types of races

There are different types of races, and horses perform differently in each. If you do not have enough knowledge about them, you might place the right bet, at the right horse, on the wrong type of race, and still lose your bet. So, learn the difference between a derby and a handicapped race. For instance, a derby is a race of three-year-old horses, while a handicapped race is where the horses are assigned weights – handicaps – to carry as they run. In addition, there are sprint races, maiden races, route races and others, and all have different conditions, rules, and participants. Then, there is the stakes race, which is a high level race of famous horses of high quality.

In conclusion, if you wish to place bets on horse races that are smart and have a high chance of winning, you should learn everything about horses and horse races beforehand. Otherwise, you will only win if you place a lucky bet, and lucky wins do not mean beating the bookies and the casinos. It only means you’ve gotten lucky once, and it will probably not happen again.

Europe is the home of some of the most famous football teams, and the UK and Germany have a long history with horse races and other sports, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that sports betting is one of the most popular form of gambling and entertainment in Europe. This is partly due to the fact that almost every country in Europe has regulations and laws for both online and offline betting, thus providing a safe environment for sports betters. In fact, member countries of the EU amount for almost 45% of the world’s total wagering amount. In addition, the world’s online betting industry is worth $33 billion, and European gamblers have wagered almost $15 billion of the total amount, and as such, the European market is the biggest regulated market in the whole world.

Below, we have taken a look at sports betting in several European countries, as well as in the UK, where sports betting is one of the most common form of entertainment and gambling.

1. United Kingdom

Sports betting in the UK has a very long history, and for the longest part of it, sports betting had been rigidly controlled and only quite recently have these regulations been relaxed.

The UK is the home of some of the biggest online bookmakers today. It is said that a bookmaker store can be found on almost every street corner in the UK, while online bookmakers from the UK are in the lead, providing customers with many innovative ideas and ways to bet, including providing odds on every game, horse race, and form of entertainment that a customer would wish to bet on. In addition, they offer plenty of sign up and deposit bonuses, and as such, have become the world’s most attractive online betting bookmakers.

Due to the rigid regulations and strict gaming licenses, the UK’s bookmakers are some of the most trusted bookmakers in the world. Added to the fact that a UK gambler will not pay tax to any winnings on sports bets made online, UK customers and betters have a very positive environment to bet in, contributing further to the popularity of sports betting as a form of entertainment. Today, the sports betting market in the UK is estimated at £650 million, and a total number of customers at 2.1 million.

2. France

Just as in the UK, sports betting enthusiasts do not have to pay taxes when betting and winning on sports, horse races, and even online poker. The total amount of sports betting wagers in France was €585 million in the second quarter of this year, a total of 73% up compared to the same quarter in 2015. The French love to bet on sports, with football bets leading with 57%, tennis following far behind with 26%, and basketball with 8%. It is notable that despite the large percentage, football betting did not hit a record, with the World Cup in 2014 remaining as the peak of football betting interest with an astounding 63%.

Other betting sports that are popular in France include handball, rugby, and tennis. However, the French can bet on any sport they wish, and the ARJEL has issued online betting licenses to many online bookmakers in France, making sure that they are legal and operate with 100% fairness to customers. French online bookmakers also add to the increasing popularity of sports betting by providing hefty bonuses for losers – if you lose your first best, it will be replaced 100%, up to 100€. This makes France one of the best countries for online sports betting.

3. Italy

Italy deserves to be included here, of course, considering it has a long-standing love affair with all forms of gambling since 300 BC, when Roman legions played dice and a strange board game called “Duodecim Scriptorum,” the predecessor of Backgammon. In addition, in 1638, the Venetian state-sanctioned the world’s first legal casino called “The Ridotto.”

Italy’s love affair with gambling does not exclude sports betting. In Italy, people are allowed to gamble and bet on every sport, except dog racing – made illegal back in 2002. The ban on placing bets on dog racing did not have an impact on sports betting popularity in Italy, though. It is estimated that sports betting, together with placing bets on horse races, account for 14% of the Italian gambling market, which is in turn estimated to be worth about €39 billion annually.

Italy has also taken action to relax the regulations around gambling and sports betting, and the regulatory authority ( Amministrazione Autonoma Monopoli di Stato) has initiated a process to issue new betting licenses to help the growth of the betting market.

4. Germany

Unlike in the UK and Italy, where regulations and licensing procedures have been relaxed in recent years, Germany put a cap of 20 state licenses for bookmakers back in 2013. This has not affected betting’s popularity, however, and in 2016, according to the analytics firm GoldMedia, the sports betting market is estimated at €5.12 billion. Due to the licensing issues, most of the worth amounts to bookmakers operating in the gray area, who have received their licenses in 2012, before the cap was placed, while the state licensed bookmakers only account for 0.2 billion.

The numbers only show that the popularity of sports betting in Germany is on the rise. The Euro 2016 football tournament is considered to be the bringer of about half of the betting worth of 2016.

The two most popular betting sports in the country are considered to be football and horse racing. With Bayern Munich as the nation’s and the world’s leading football team, and the German Derby at Hamburg, which attracts the best equine fields, betting in Germany has always been popular, and it will remain so in the future. In addition, other forms of gambling are becoming increasingly popular in Germany, especially online casinos, and there are many websites that offer bonus codes and other benefits for German gamblers, like www.sportwettenbonuscode.xyz.

There is not a shortage of stories of gamblers who lose it all, especially today, when gambling addiction is in the limelight just as much as any other addiction.

But there are stories that stand out, stories that show just how much horse racing can have an impact on a person’s life. The stories presented below span centuries, from the days before online gambling, before off the track betting, all the way to modern times. They vary in details, in monetary losses, but there is a running similarity – love of betting on horse races.

The stories prove the pull and attraction of the racetracks, of the pounding of the horses’ hooves, of the crowds, but most of all, the pull of the bets. In these stories, we see how the combined love of horses and betting has led people to their financial, and sometimes even, psychological ruin..

1. The Story of Riley Grannan

Grannan was one of the most common sights at the racetracks from 1888 up until a few years before his death in 1908. He was one of the most famous gamblers and bookmakers of his day, losing, winning, and losing his fortune again and again, in an endless circle until he walked away from the tracks around 1904 for good.

During his time, Grannan was known as a plunger, a term used in the period to describe people who placed seriously large bets, sometimes of thousands of dollars, on the horses. He was also a bookmaker, and reportedly had a good eye for the horses, and often managed to win fortunes. But just as often, he lost. In 1896, Grannan was reportedly banned from the racetracks in New York, due to suspicion that he had bribed a jockey.

In the aftermath, he relocated to Europe, but came back in the US in 1898, preferring the tracks of the Midwest and California to those of New York. Reports of this period, however, show that his big plunging days were over. His final grand bet was in 1903, when he placed an astounding amount of $18.000 at a racetrack in New Orleans and lost. It is not certain that this was the loss that made him walk away from the racetracks for good, and opened a saloon in Nevada, where he died in 1908.

2. Ed Cheeseman – From a Bank to a Prison

Ed Cheeseman was a banker who loved the racetracks, the horses, and most of all, he loved the betting. Back in the 1990s, Cheeseman was at the height of his career as a banker, but lost it all to horse race betting.

His story revolves around the racetracks at Saratoga, where his father would take him when he was young. They would place innocent bets on horses, but towards the end, Cheeseman would spend more than a thousand dollars a day on multiple bets throughout the day. His favorite bet was a $40 exacta box, with $40 on each of the six combos that three horses can form if they finish first or second. In other words, Cheeseman would bet around $240 on a single race, and he would bet on several races in one day.

Before his downfall, Cheeseman worked at the National Savings Bank in Albany for 19 years, and at the height of his career, he was a vice president for commercial loans. Naturally, he had access to a lot of money from investors. He began to think that he could use those to break even and regain his losses.

In that time, according to Cheeseman himself, the Saratoga racetrack was the place to be for bankers, investors, and lawyers. For him, going to the racetracks was a social event, a social event that in turn, fueled his addiction to horse betting. He ended up owing $604,372 to the National Savings Bank, $405,769 of which belonged to clients, who did not know that instead of investing their savings, he was funding his own addiction to horse racing.

Cheeseman never managed to break even, regain the losses and pay back the money he had used from clients. In 1992, the law caught up with him. After standing trial and pledging guilt, he was sentenced to the Federal prison in Pennsylvania.

3. Horse betting leading to ruin in modern times – David Milch

David Milch is the writer and creator of television as we know it today. He created the groundbreaking NYPD Blue, and the incredible television series Deadwood. Milch has enjoyed a career in Hollywood for decades, and has made over $100 million from his television shows and movies, but he has lost it all to horse race betting.

One of his television shows, Luck, which got cancelled in 2012, revolved around horse racing and betting on the racetracks, and Milch himself described it as his “love letter” to horse racing and gambling. Milch has owned a number of horses throughout the years, but he had sold them all back in 2011. However, in between 2000 and 2011, Milch lost over $25 million to horse race gambling, and today, he is over $17 million in debt.

David Milch’s addiction to horse races was not hidden, and his family members and friends have always been aware of it. His wife, Rita Miller, has filed a lawsuit against their financial managers, because she had not been made aware of Milch’s losses and the state of their finances. According to many of his friends, he took to the racetracks with the same focus he showed towards his creations, and he is a very good handicapper. But he would also bet on every race, and spend thousands of dollars on the racetracks, sometimes within one day on multiple races. The Santa Anita racetrack was his place of choice, where he was reported to be a constant presence.

Today, David Milch has an ongoing exclusive deal with HBO, which is talks of renewal. He is also working on two projects, an adaptation of Shadow Country, a novel by Peter Matthiessen, and a movie version of Deadwood. But his days at the racetracks are probably over, because he lives on an allowance of $40 per week.

Addiction to horse races can lead to a person’s financial ruin, as the stories above show. However, gambling on horses today is not limited to the racetracks. Online casinos today are considered well rounded if they offer means of sports betting and betting on horse races, and many of them do. In addition to bonuses, such as those here, online casinos today offer means of betting on horses from home, and as such, become attractive for people who are horse racing enthusiasts. Horse racing has been around for a long time, and horse betting has been the best thing to do at the races since the first horse race. It is safe to assume that the above stories, which are not isolated stories of gamblers who have lost it all on the racetracks, will be repeated again in the future.

The race tracks have always attracted a lot of people, not only punters, but sports enthusiasts as well. The sport of kings, as it is commonly called, offers numerous opportunities of social and business gatherings spiced up with the thrill of horseracing. The tracks, the races, the crowds cheering their favorites on, and the thrill of betting can make quite an interesting weekend for anyone, especially for sports enthusiasts.

However, today, the popularity of horse racing is not what it was thirty years ago, when people were crowding the racetracks to cheer on their favorite horses, and when betting on the racetracks was done exclusively through betting stations on-site. Today, the game has changed completely with betting off the tracks and online betting becoming available.

Horse racing industry in possible decline

According to Ladbrokes, the second biggest spectator sports of Britain is not sustainable anymore. Since 2005, the cost of racing has doubled, due to the increase of the horse-racing statutory duty on off the track bets, and the cost of media rights. In order to broadcast races in the shops, bookmakers need to pay for the media rights. The rise in media costs and the statutory levy are causing many bookmakers to close their shops, or cut horse betting altogether. In turn, the horse racing industry suffers a lack of income, especially when the fact that about a fifth of the industry’s income comes from horse betting. In turn, horse breeders cannot meet the demand with domestic horses, and more and more foreign foals are brought in to fill the racetracks.

Factors favoring the decline

There are many reasons why the horse race industry is considered to be in decline. The first reason is the increasing popularity of football and other sports, who grab the attention of betters worldwide a lot more than horse races. Placing a bet on a horse race is a difficult, analytical task one has to do carefully in order to place a winning bet, and lucky wins are rare. On the other hand, football betting has only increased, shown by the rise of popularity in online betting on sports. In addition, many betting websites increase their popularity, like with this bet365 bonus code, and other benefits that favor online casino gambling and betting on other sports.

This brings forward the second reason for the decline. Online gambling at online casinos is becoming more and more popular, especially in Britain. This is not surprising, considering that today’s young generations are more attracted to means of online entertainment, rather than following horse races and attending horseracing events at racecourses. But, even before the digital age, the race tracks always attracted a more mature demographic, and young fans were rarely seen.

Public perception of horse races

The public perception of horse races is not exactly favorable either. A dominant perception is that the sport is not fairly conducted, and that drugs and other means of enhancing a horse’s performance are being used by a lot of trainers, causing a major decline in the fairness of the games. It does not help that there have been situations in the past where a horse’s performance has magically improved in one day. This can affect many betters who turn to betting on other sports, where they believe they will have more chances of winning. In addition, there is always the presence of trainers and jockeys with whips in their hands, ready to lay them on the horses, further increasing the perception that horse racing is a cruel sport where the lives and health of the horses are not taken in consideration by the trainers and jockeys.

Race track attendance shows an increase in popularity

On the side of the coin, horseracing is becoming more and popular. In 2015, attendance to the racecourses increased by 5.3 percent for the third year in a row. This increase can be attributed to the innovative entertainment methods of the races. Some of the races end with concerts and music, and children under the age of 18 get free entrance to many venues, and some of them even have free race nights, allowing many people their first ever sight of a horse race. As such, attendance to the racecourses rises steadily, with many people becoming more attracted to the race and the venues, meaning that the horseracing industry is not yet in such dire straits. Many racecourse venues apply more means of attracting a younger crowd and promote horseracing, and as such, they help out the local communities, demonstrating the importance of horseracing not only as a means of entertainment, but as a source of welfare for the community.

Interest in horse racing rising steadily

As it can be seen in the image below, the interest in horse racing has had a steady increase in the last five years.

This can be confirmed by the analysis made by Smart Live Gambling is that while online gambling and betting as a whole is on the rise, betting on horses leads with an astounding amount of 65 percent, compared to betting online and offline on other sports and online casino gambling. According to the study, horserace betting is the most popular activity for young men and women from the ages of 25 to 34, and that almost 15 percent of the money a gambler spends in his or her lifetime is dedicated to horserace betting. Online betting with a bookmaker follows far behind with 44 percent, offline sports betting with 37 percent.

The steady rise of interest in horse races coupled together with the fact that betting on horses leads over other forms of gambling and betting, aided by the increase of attendance at the racecourses by both young and mature fans, allows the conclusion that the horse racing industry might have suffered drawbacks and declines over the past decade, but that its trends are on the rise. Last year, attendance of the tracks was at a high, with over six million people attending more than 1400 races, and the betting turnover was over £10 million. The sport of kings is one of the UK’s main forms of entertainments, and it is estimated that it will remain so in years to come.

Horse betting is rarely considered dangerous from a gambling perspective. After all, pathological gambling stories where the problem gambler loses everything rarely focus around horse betting. Sure, people have been known to become addicted to sports betting and casino games, but rarely ever to horse betting.

But, betting on the outcome of a horse race can, and does, have the same effect on the mind of the gambler as it does betting in a casino or sports betting. The difference is that horse racing is considered a sport, going to the tracks to watch the race is a social event, despite the rise of online betting and OTB – off track betting. In turn, no one thinks to look twice at the possibility that horse betting can lead to gambling addiction, and this oversight has and can affect a lot of people.

Horse race betting is a dangerous form of betting, and below, we have several reasons why.

1. The act of placing bets is an addictive challenge

Experienced betters know how much calculation goes into a single bet. Of course, there are social gamblers who would place a bet on a horse only if they are at the tracks with friends and colleagues, and everyone else is doing it. But experienced betters claim that behind every win stands a lot of time, effort and dedication. It’s not only about placing the right bet, calculating the right odds. If you wish to win, you need to get familiar with the races, the horses, and find every piece of information about the upcoming race available. The difficulty of the task increases if you are placing a bet on a handicapped race, where the horse needs to overcome its handicap in order to win, making it more difficult to calculate the outcome successfully to place the right bet. But for many gamblers, the calculation is just as addictive as the act of betting itself.

2. OTB and online betting effect

In the past, you needed to attend a race track, and could place bets on the horses only if there were betting stations where you could do so. For many stadiums, this was illegal and prohibited. However, today, a horse race enthusiast does not need to live near a race track, nor does he need to attend. Off the track betting, or OTB, made it easier to place bets over the phone or at a booking store, and today, every online betting website offers horse races betting amongst sports betting, and one can place a bet on horses from anywhere in the world. This makes horse race betting just as dangerous as any other form of betting and online gambling.

3. Cumulative winnings

When you think of horse race betting, the first thing you imagine is betting on a horse to win, place or show. Then, there are the more exotic bets for bigger winnings, like exacta, trifecta, and quinella. But, you can also place a bet to lay a horse, where you don’t bet that the horse will win, but that it will lose. The concept is very simple – you win as long as the horse loses. Usually, the winnings are smaller, but they can be quite addictive, as on the surface, it seems like an easier bet, an easier win. Many people think that they can profit off of betting to lay a horse. This can lead to a false impression of gaining cumulative winnings that can make you break even after you have had a string of lost bets, and thus make a person want to keep betting even if they did not win any bet before that.

4. Immersive entertainment

Horse racing is a sport, and for many, this is the most attractive aspect of betting. You not only get to play a game of chance, you can also enjoy an immersive form of entertainment, which can even be a social event with friends and colleagues. It is easy to hide a problem in entertainment, especially if there is a local track where everyone you know has attended a horse race at least once. If you mention going to a casino many people would raise their eyebrows because there is only one thing a person can do at a casino – gamble. But attending a horse race at the tracks gives the same impression as attending a basketball or a football game, in other words, as nothing unusual. So, even if the person has a problem with betting on horse races, they can hide this fact from family members and friends and keep going until it’s too late.

5. A gateway to gambling addiction

One thing has always been certain – in order to gamble at a casino, in order to place a lot of bets, you need money. Horse race bets can vary from as little as $2 to $20 or more, depending on the odds and the type of betting. And you couldn’t play a decent poker game with only $10, but you could place five bets on a horse race. Sure, you will not win a lot of money with a $2 bet, but you can play. You can place your bet, get your ticket, and watch the race, anticipating the outcome, just like you would anticipate the spinning of the reels at a slot machine. Of course, with a slot machine, you get your result within a minute, while a horse race lasts longer, which means that the period of anticipation is longer and the act of betting that more exciting. Before you know it, it’s not about the money, the winnings, but about the act of playing a game of chance. It becomes a gateway to gambling addiction, especially if you are susceptible to compulsive behavior.

Sometimes, betting on horses is just the beginning of being plunged into a gambling addiction. No matter how safe it might seem, horse betting can be just as addictive and just as dangerous as any other form of gambling. And problem gambling is becoming more and more spread worldwide, with online betting and online gambling at our fingertips. Safer Gaming, an organization out of Malta that’s dedicated to raising awareness about gambling addiction, explain on their website how gambling addiction is just as difficult to defeat as any other form of addiction, and it’s just as big of a problem.

Betting on horse races has been around since the first horse race. Unlike gambling, betting on horses did not face the same stigma in the past. In fact, going to the race tracks and betting on horses used to be considered a social event. At almost every race track, there is a betting station for those who wish to bet on the horses. Many people who are new to betting on the outcomes of horse races lose the bets they make, because they are not prepared, and bet only for the fun of betting. However, betting on horses can be both fun and profitable, and these days, with off-track betting, you can bet from your own home without going to the tracks. Winning a bet on horse races is a matter of luck, as it is the case with every other form of betting and gambling. But, winning a bet on horse races can be a matter of skill, and if you learn how to look for information on the horses, jockeys and owners, and how to use that same information, you can increase your odds of winning.

Different ways of horse betting

It’s very simple to bet on horse races, even if you do it online or over the phone. You place your bet on the horse, and keep a ticket where you have the name of the racetrack, the number of the race, the dollar unit of your bet, the wagering type, and the horse, or horses, you’ve bet to win, place, show, or a combination of bets. Like other sports betting, betting on horses can have different outcomes and these generate different payoffs, depending on the odds and on your bet. As mentioned above, there are several ways to bet on horses.

Betting to win means that if the horse you’ve selected wins the race, you get the win payoff. Place is when you bet that the horse will either win or come out second. You collect a show win if the horse you’ve bet on finished second or third. A combination of the three above is called across-the-board. When you bet across-the-board, you will win if the horse you’ve selected comes either first, second, or third. It’s three bets in one, and if the horse you’ve selected wins, you win the combined amount of the win, place and show payoffs. If the horse finishes second, you collect the combined place and show payoffs, and if the horse finishes third, you collect the combined amount of the show payoff.

Another form of betting is laying a horse – it means betting that the horse will lose the race. Statistically, it is much easier to lay a horse than bet for it to win, so the winnings in this case are lower, and the betting house always keeps at least 5% of your bet, further lowering the amount you will walk away with.

Exotic betting and boxing a bet

Exotic bets come in three forms: exacta, quinella and trifecta. The first form, exacta means choosing two horses to come in first and second. Quinella is basically the same bet as exacta, with the difference that it does not matter which horse of the two you’ve chosen finishes first. Trifecta is when you choose three horses and bet the order in which they’ll finish the race. It’s the most complicated bet, and the most difficult bet to win. Boxing a bet means to box your bet, and increase your chances of winning. It refers to covering all of the possible ways in which you can win. Boxing usually costs the same as you bet, so if you’ve made an exacta bet of $3, you will pay another $3 to box the bet – and you will win as long as the two horses you’ve chosen finish first and second.

How to profit on horse races

Winning and profiting is not the same. Winning on horse races is the first step of making a profit, but if it is followed by a string of losses, then you haven’t made a profit, only had one win among a losing streak. Profiting, on the other hand, means winning bets more often than losing them, and when it comes to betting on horses, it’s possible. It’s difficult, especially if you’re new to horse race betting, but it can be done if you know which steps to take and which things you should familiarize yourself with. Betting to win means understanding the difference between fixed odds betting, parimutuel betting and exchange betting. In horse race betting, the most common forms are fixed-odds and pari-mutuel (tote) betting. Fixed odds betting means placing a bet with a bookmaker at fixed odds. Tote betting is a lot different. When you place a bet with a tote betting organization, your bet goes into a pool of bets for the race, and the payoffs are, afterwards, spread among the winners. There are no odds involved, and the amount you will win depend on the race, the amount of bets, the amount of winning bets, and the percentage that the organization (house) gets to keep.

The secret to profiting on horse races

The secret is time, dedication, and patience. You need to be familiar with the horses involved in the race and spend time researching them. There is plenty of information online today, that you don’t even need to spend time at the tracks, or look for information in leaflets or handicapping selections. Emotions and instinct can be your enemies, and your favorite horse will not always win, so you need to be impartial, and decide on a winning horse by a string of factors, like form, weight, trainer and others. You can see more in the video below.

Setting aside money to be used specifically for making profit off of betting on horse races is a good way of taking the emotion out of the betting, as it allows looking at it as an investment, rather than a gamble. Smart betting involves being selective about races, horses, and odds. It involves careful money management, and records keeping – in order to keep track of what works and what does not work. There are plenty of systems that have been developed, whose developers claim to be profitable winning systems, but those might not work for you.

Difference between betting and gambling

Today, betting on horses and online gambling are fighting for popularity. More and more people stop going to the tracks and simply bet online, and people also spend more and more time playing casino games online. Of course, this poses the question of which is more profitable: betting or horses or online gambling? Lucrative Casino Jackpots attract more players, but the chances of winning those are not great. Slot machines are money robbers, in essence, poker, blackjack, and roulette seem like games where you can win and profit – but luck has a bigger role than skill, all the same. Horse betting, on the other hand, can be profitable with skill, patience, and dedication, because you can minimize your losses by careful planning, research and taking rational decisions.

Hopes were definitely high for Midterm before York after he won the Bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown on his seasonal return in April. Defeating Algometer by a lenght as well as a fifty percent really did not look especially solid type at the time however David Simcock’s grey has actually taken Listed as well as Group Three magnificence ever since having possibly not dealt with the track when 7th in the Derby between that success.

Midterm fast as a rocket at Qatar Prix

Japanese Makahiki worth looking out for this year

If Makahiki is a real 5/1 shot after that Midterm stands for without a doubt and also away the most effective worth available at this phase as well as his strange

Three-year-olds hold a superior document, no question to the best mixture of the race being run near completion of the year when the most youthful brigade have completely turned into their structures, along with the significant weight allocations they obtain from their seniors.

That was her 2nd success at Chantilly having likewise taped a Listed accomplishment at the track last November, while Left Hand has done the type no injury whatsoever with succeeding success in Group Three as well as Group One business at Deaville and also Chantilly specifically.

If she does remain, after that her shimmering turn of foot will certainly make her dangerous around Chantilly, yet there is no proof yet that she’ll obtain the brand-new journey.

He cut with the pack to win the Japanese Derby from an uncompromising setting in Tokyo back in May, and also his only succeeding getaway produced a slim win in the Prix Niel over the Arc program and also range on September 11.

Le Havre another speedster to keep in consideration

Her sire Le Havre, additionally educated by Rouget, won the Prix Du Jockey Club over the expanded 10 furlongs at this place in 2009 yet the majority of his children are milers as well as a remarkable child, Avenir Certain, deteriorated considerably from being in 2nd location with a furlong to take a trip to wind up 11th of 20 in Treve’s 2014 Arc on her only profession getaway past a mile and also a quarter.

Therein exists the quandary as well as it would certainly be wrong not to recognize now that the colt concerned is a much shorter cost for Ascot compared to he is for Chantilly.

Midterm had the run of the race as well as was defeated aboveboard; however, he installed a genuine battle when going as well as was fighting back at the line to decrease directly, after which Teddy Grimthorpe specified: “Midterm had an excellent impact as well as truly required that. He worked out well as well as relocated well throughout the race, and also from that viewpoint you need to delight in, besides the outcome.

Here is the latest Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Found has actually had an active period as well as looks held by Postponed on their Coronation Cup running, however, she’s vulnerable to coming to a head at the end of the year and also took place to defeat Golden Horn in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on her last 2015 begin last October.

Though there’s a lure to obtain Found on side, the three-year-old data are difficult to disregard as well as it’s not a surprise assistance for La Cressonniere continuouslies snowball.

So the messages are blended yet on equilibrium there shows up sufficient of a question over her capability to see out the range to oppose La Cressonniere and also currently she’s 11/2 the choice to search for choices is not such a tough one.

The 2016 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has a really various aim to it for numerous factors, not the very least due to the fact that it’s to be performed at Chantilly while Longchamp is being provided a significant overhaul, yet one of the most shocking monitoring at this specific point is that we have a five-year-old on top of the wagering.

The dam Absolute Lady was unraced yet is sired by the all-conquering Galileo as well as her half-sister Gold Sands succeeded over 12 furlongs, albeit in a Kempton maiden.

Khalid Abdullah does have New Bay for the Arc also, and also he’s a much shorter rate at 16/1, however links are determined they will not be isolated from it as well as there’s little question the Chantilly examination over a mile-and-a-half looks better for Midterm compared to Ascot.

Yet that’s bound to be the situation based upon the deepness of top quality in each occasion and also taking into consideration just how delighted links were with his return, having actually taken the actions to send him to France to run in the Niel over the very same training course this year’s Arc will certainly be opposed, I’m flawlessly pleased to chance the truth he returns to France on October 2, absolutely at 33/1 (basic cost).

The competition is harder than ever

Nevertheless you approach it there’s a guaranteed touch of course to Midterm and also he probably placed in a career-best when simply losing out in the previously mentioned limited, three-way surface in the Arc test, a race that fairly often committed the victor around the turn of the millennium (Rail Link, Hurricane Run, Dalakhani, Sinndar and also Sagamix all did the Niel-Arc dual).

Provided, Workforce had currently confirmed himself at the highest degree having won the 2010 Derby however there are some resemblances; both horses won their only beginnings at 2 and also both were defeated in the Dante Stakes at York.

She has a whole lot opting for her. Fitness instructor Jean-Claude Rouget has appreciated one more excellent period and also his unbeaten filly has preserved an exceptionally high degree of type throughout 2016, the emphasize being an apparently comfy triumph over 50/1 opportunity Left Hand in the Prix De Diane back in June.

Delayed is 100/30 at finest as well as can perhaps be a color much shorter, however, every little thing we understand concerning this wonderful race informs us that the Classic generation has a significant benefit.

Endurance is the only problem as well as it’s much from particular the initial effort at a mile and also a fifty percent will certainly produce any enhancement.

The third-favourite is Makahiki, a remarkable Japanese jogger and also it’s within the worlds of opportunity that he at some point goes off preferred – on the Parimutuel at the very least.

Even with this, four-year-old mares have won 2 of the past four revivals (they obtain 3lb from their male equivalents), so Found needs to be considered closely following her close 2nd to Almanzor, which looks specific to occupy his interaction in the Champion Stakes at Ascot as opposed to visiting Chantilly.

That was simply the 4th beginning of his profession, his initial public airing because of May and also his first taste of French auto racing, yet all three views likewise put on the equine he slipped by in a close finish in the Niel.

Her ante-post cost variations from 6/1 to 10/1 so there’s some complication in the rankings and also at the top end of that range, she charms the majority of those in the direction of the head of the wagering.

That was a plainly significant strike for Stoute that wound up fast-tracking Ulysses to Epsom when he possibly had not been rather prepared for the event.

”He currently has two alternatives, either the Arc or the Champion Stakes.”

He’s done it at 10 furlongs and also over the Arc journey of a mile as well as a fifty percent. He’s done it in France, he’s done it in Meydan and also he’s done it on ground varying from excellent to firm throughout to soft.

The step up to a mile-and-a-half noticeably fit the child of Galileo, that has constantly been thought about a leading middle-distance possibility, as well as a hang back to 10 furlongs on Champions Day does not make much feeling, giving he’s arisen from his preparation healthy without reappearance of the injury.

Aidan O’Brien can likewise saddle Minding, Seventh Heaven, Order Of St George, Deauville, Highland Reel, Ballydoyle and also the unstable United States Army Ranger, however, four-year-old Found is most certainly the leading hope as the master instructor bids for a 2nd Arc success.

Held off, Erupt, A Shin Hikari et alia – readied to lug 9-5 – have to yield 8lb to the three-year-old colts and also 11lb to the three-year-old fillies, which has just confirmed excessive for numerous elegant equines down the years.

Found was just 5th to Golden Horn as a three-year-old filly in 2014’s Arc, however, was knocked laterally at an important phase in the straight and also her ninth-placed surface could certainly be increased.

His sire Deep Impact was the topic of an almighty on-course wager prior to completing 3rd in the Arc 10 years back as well as Yasuo Tomomichi’s colt has actually plainly caught the creative imagination of the Japanese public in a comparable capillary.

The Roger Varian-trained Postponed has won his last six beginnings, the three latest which have been available in Group One firm by an accumulated range of 7 as well as three-quarter sizes, and also he is the most effective steed entered upon all understand kind.

In 2015’s Cheltenham Gold Mug hero Coneygree* might make his eagerly-awaited go back to activity in the Betfair Chase at Haydock after links had confessed they were “attracted” to seek the Jockey Club Chase.

*Coneygree is a British Thoroughbred racehorse competing in National Hunt races and is yet undefeated in Chase races.

Any kind of steed that could land the Betfair Chase in November, the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day as well as the Timico Cheltenham Gold Mug in March will certainly grab a ₤1million perk.

Coneygree, which came to be the initial newbie in 41 years to win heaven riband in March 2015, competed simply when last period when disregarding two opponents at Sandown in December.
In spite of his extensive lack, Sara Bradstock, better half and also aide to fitness instructor Mark, reports the nine-year-old to be in disrespectful health and wellness in advance of his return.

“He remains in excellent kind. He did his initial item of appropriate quick deal with Saturday as well as he feels remarkable actually,” stated Bradstock.
“I believe he’s most likely in much better type compared to he was this time around in 2015.” The injury he had was among those niggly traits that obtained considerably even worse and also, in knowledge, I assume it’s something he most likely got when he won the Gold Mug.

“He undoubtedly appeared and also won at Sandown, yet recalling; I do not believe he leaped in addition to what could that day, so he was most likely feeling something. He clearly had not been unsatisfactory, or we would not have actually run. The climate most likely plays a significant component in where we start as I do not believe we would certainly also consider running him on excellent ground, it would certainly get on the slow-moving side of great.”

“We are attracted by the benefit, so maybe that we wait till the Betfair Chase at Haydock. If the ground came we could think of the Charlie Hall. We’ll possibly enter him at Wetherby as well as see exactly how it looks. However the concern would certainly be it comes close sufficient to Haydock.”

“Regrettably there typically aren’t any simple choices for steeds like him. I would certainly such as have the ability to obtain a good, very easy win right into him someplace.
In the Michael Dickinson days equines can run in an open handicap, deal with a number of various other steeds and also be 1-10, yet there typically aren’t races like that nowadays.”

Things concerning Coneygree is, as a result of his design of auto racing, anything that runs versus him is most likely to have a tough race.

“That’s why we could not recognize all the rubbish that was chatted when individuals doubted whether we need to run in the Gold Mug. He was just most likely to do his common feat whichever race he ran in and also he did not recognize just what the race was called.”

She took place: “We’ll see just what occurs in the following month or two, however one of the most likely circumstances is we’ll offer him a racecourse gallop someplace and afterward most likely to Haydock.

“I feel every action he takes, so we’ll see exactly how he’s feeling nearer the moment as well as allow him to inform us exactly what he wishes to do.”

With last period’s champion Don Cossack sidelined up until finally the brand-new year, the Gold Mug market for this term is wide-open, with Coneygree a basic 12-1 shot to reclaim his crown.
Favourite with some bookies is Colin Tizzard’s all-conquering staying hurdler Thistlecrack, although he has not yet made an affordable look over fencings.

Bradstock stated: “It’s likely to be intriguing, that’s for certain. I believe Don Cossack may have defeated us in the Gold Mug last period, simply since the ground was so fast. He’s undoubtedly inactive right now and also I simply wish they do not have the ground like that once more (at Cheltenham).”

“I like the suggestion they have actually obtained Thistlecrack as preferred when he hasn’t already also leaped a fencing. I assume we have actually all been attracted into thinking he’s the following Huge Dollar’s, yet he’s not. He’s ranked 174 over difficulties, we’re 172 over fencings, yet I want to believe Thistlecrack would certainly have to enhance for leaping a fencing to be defeating us.”

“I’m hopeful as well as he’ll wind up being the following Arkle; however I do not believe we have actually obtained anything to be discouraged of as well as I can’t wait to begin. Max and I have stepped numerous miles with each other given that last Xmas, I would certainly think numerous miles.”

“He remains in great order currently. I maintain claiming he’s reached win one more Gold Mug due to the fact that I cannot keep in mind the very first one – we have actually undoubtedly viewed the race back often, however, I truthfully cannot keep in mind enjoying it live as I remained in such a flap!”